SAFETY & SECURITY EDUCATION And what it means to the Academy for Venue Safety & Security. By John Siehl, CFE
It is early morning, somewhere in Wisconsin. I am sitting in a confer- ence venue with a great view of Lake Michigan. Am I safe and secure? invite thousands of people to our facilities, in a world of domestic and international terror, I am questioning the reality of safe and secure. Looking at the attributes that add to our feeling of safety and se-
curity, there are two main areas that contribute to our comfort level, or lack thereof. Contributing to this perception of safety are the fac- tors that inherently add to the recognition that the facility itself is safe and presents, to the public, the reputation of solidarity and comfort. Comfort is represented by physical attributes that create the feeling of safety. Our feeling of safety can be enhanced by concrete and steel, or diminished by an enclosure of cardboard and duct tape. Another primary factor is the consideration of the Human Factor. In the ven- ue management industry, we ask the general public to come to our facilities and enjoy themselves. Part of the decision-making process, conscious or unconscious, is the perception of the facility as it relates to their personal comfort for customer service, and, ultimately, the ap- pearance of safety for self and others. Reality is that the venue management industry expects the general
public to visit, spend money and enjoy our facilities. The realm of our reach is from dance recitals to major concerts, to sporting events, conferences and meetings and spectacle productions. The invitation to join us at the facility is open, but, as the industry, we must ensure the safest and highest level of personal safety that is achievable in the eyes of the public. How do we do this? The Academy for Venue Safety & Security (AVSS), to be held on
March 17-21, 2017, can add to your tool box of skills, policies, and procedures to help ensure the safety and broad security of your pa- trons and facility. The in-depth curriculum of AVSS has evolved over the past several years to target a broad spectrum of topics. At AVSS, an “all hazard approach” is the driving premise of the course devel- opment. Courses are deeply rooted in four primary areas: Risk Manage-
is a brief description of the course content.
Risk Management - ture. It is important to understand that risks are widespread; they can be intellectual, property driven, or human threats. AVSS proposes that risk management is a continual process that should be designed to pro- tect people and property. The academy will help students understand how to recognize, evaluate, and mitigate risk.
Emergency Planning
Starting with the question, “What is an emergency?”, AVSS will help
- posure to emergency situations through preparedness and prevention. Utilizing tools shared at AVSS, the attendee can minimize or eliminate harm and damage, provide safety and protection to clients, the public regulations, and provide channels of communication to reduce liabil- ities and loss.
Security Operations - sure the security of. What are our assets? Ask yourself, “Is there really anything in or related to this facility that would allow for the smooth expendable?” This critical question will help you identify all areas of concern when planning essential protocols, procedures, and standards that drive the basis of the security operation. The plan is not just about the people, but encompasses people, the place, and all things, moni- tored or addressed all the time. We need to assess the level of vulnera- bility we are willing to accept when instituting the security operation.
Training As you work your way through the above steps of preparation to en- sure the safety and security of your venue, you may well ask “What now?” The “What Now?” is training. The absolute best plan in the venue management industry is of no use to anyone sitting on a shelf, neglected from the time of printing. Awareness of Risk Management, and protocols is a big task, but the real task begins with the training to the plan as a whole. In the AVSS model, training runs the entire scope, starting with the initial orientation of employees to the venue to the and emergency agencies. The time to train is now, not when the bad or even marginal event occurs. Training covers the most basic slip and fall report to the coordinated response to a catastrophic event.
In the end, what does safe and secure really mean? It means we are ready, ready as an industry, ready as a venue, prepared as departments to the best of my ability in the event of an incident, small or large. Is your venue safe and secure? The Academy for Venue Safety & Secu- - tion and respond to any event that you may be confronted with. FM
John Siehl, CFE, is chair of the IAVM Safety & Security Committee.
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Facility Manager Magazine
Photo provided by IAVM
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